Discoveries from Australia World Cinema

A professional forger comes under threat from a predatory crime ring in Ian Pringle's first feature in more than two decades.

This surreal arthouse drama depicts the last memories of Sabrina. Her friends (Wendy and Mazza) and lover (Romeo) are a part of her life. Things soon get a little unnerving.

On a whim, Eve, a young Swedish traveler, accepts an invitation from Peter to vacation on his family's private island off the coast of New England. As a series of unexpected delays prevent other guests from arriving, Eve discovers that she has little in common with the increasingly erratic Peter. Gradually the idyllic natural beauty of the island gives way and Eve finds herself trapped in a state of surreality punctuated by bizarre visions, dimensional shifting and secret pizza.

Seeking closure after a devastating breakup, Chloe contacts an agency who send doppelgängers to the heartbroken to issue plastic apologies, however the interaction with her “ex” takes an unexpected turn.

This self-funded verité comedy starring John Duigan is something of a swan song for the “Carlton ripple” and reflects the movement’s characteristic vacillation between intensely local and distantly international influences.

Rooming together in a garage, two friends' Christmas eve night escalates into a realm of psychedelic hedonism.

One brutal home invasion, five murders, two detectives and No Witnesses.

The Wiggles professional experience as early childhood educators has taught them that children learn best through play. Sing A Song Of Wiggles includes 32 of the most beloved and classic nursery rhymes set to music.

In 1244, during a time of religious persecution, Pope Innocent IV and King Louis IX of France sought to eradicate a pacifist Christian group known as Cathars. The last of the Cathar heretics found protection at the Castle of Montsegur. Here a dedicated group of about 100 defending knights, under the Leadership of Lord Raymond and his family, held a crusading army of over 10,000 mercenaries at bay for 9 months. To this day, many people believe that the Cathars were the guardians of a treasure of great significance, possibly even the Holy Grail. It is rumoured that in the last days of the siege a small group managed to slip away in the dead of night to retrieve this hidden treasure and get it safely away from the clutches of the Catholic Church. This is their story.

This is the story of a toad named Baz, who has suddenly, for no good reason which is apparent, disappears. As Baz is gone, the story of the theories put forth to his possible plight is told by his friend Daz, whose "mates call him Dazza" and who tells the story as he thinks it went. Daz tells the audience that he knows not where Daz went, only that he disappeared "like a fart in a fan factory" and that since he's disappeared, nobody around knows what happened to him. In this short film, Daz tells us his theories on what may have happened...

Once upon a time there was a Princess who was gifted with the power to make one wish come true. It had been arranged that she was to marry a Prince whom she did not love nor care for. They are married and at night they sleep apart, the princess with her wish beside her in the guise of a beautiful flower, a pink. The rest of the tale is for you to see, but to the best of my knowledge the Princess still lives happily ever after.

The happy-go-lucky young Smiley gets into more strife as he attempts to prove himself a responsible citizen by helping others - all so he can earn a new gun from Sergeant Flaxman.

A man suffers a sequence of breakdowns during an attempt to leave his partner

A short film made in collaboration with HitRecord for the special features section of the Don Jon DVD. It follows the adventures of a young man (voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is obsessed with his favourite thing - vinegar!

Play time is a lot more fun when you wiggle. Just ask Greg, Murray, Anthony and Jeff…otherwise known as The Wiggles®. Watch as this band from "down under" turns play time into a giggly, wiggly, musical celebration in this compilation of three episodes from the "Wiggles Television" series in Australia. Dorothy The Dinosaur will be there. So will Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword. So get ready to put your hands together and sing alone while The Wiggles keep you moving and grooving all day long. You’ll learn about the importance of family and friends as you make some new friends of your own! Play time has always been a time for giggles, and now it’s the perfect time for The Wiggles.

Exploring helplessness, Pyre is an experimental short film which personifies death as a ghoul in a dress, drawing closer and closer until striking.

Dot ventures out into the bush determined to finally locate the little lost joey and reunite him with his mother. On her way she meets a silly bunny rabbit who tries to convince Dot that he is the joey she is looking for. Dot is delighted by his antics and names her new companion 'Funny Bunny'. Together they continue the search for the joey. On the way Dot learns that Funny Bunny is really a very lonely rabbit. His family were killed by hunters and he has been on his own ever since. They find mother kangaroo, and though she has not yet found her joey, when she sees the lonely bunny she realises she has found someone else to look after.

A short film about the relationship between an Aboriginal daughter and her white mother. The daughter, now the sole carer of her dying mother, dreams of far away places, the haunted look in her eyes loaded with a sense of what could have been. Famous Aboriginal singer, Jimmy Little, sings 'Royal Telephone', evoking the presence of Christianity and its role in the assimilation of Aboriginal people. The final scene sees the daughter lying in a foetal position next to her mother, crying. Assimilation, then, can be understood as a pain experienced by both the Aboriginal daughter as well as the white mother.

A story of resistance across generations, the power of family and the unrelenting struggle for justice in a country that remains in denial.

Set in the near future after a significant collapse of civilization, Dome House Six is a sci-fi thriller about trust, mischief, lust and control, that follows four seemingly unconnected people as they try to survive in a post apocalyptic landscape.

An experimental documentary on the life and death of Juanita Nielsen in the form of a non-linear video installation.

An American family receives an inheritance a century English castle with its gardens and furniture includes a real ghost, that of Simon de Canterville. The ghost, which aims to continue to enjoy peace of mind several hundred years, using their best techniques to get rid of the spooky family upset.

Davaa and Zaya are a young nomadic couple in the vast Bayanhongor region of Mongolia who are in the throes of animal birthing season when a seismic event suddenly changes their lives. They are forced to migrate afar but are haunted by their past lives.

Maia Thomas stars as Crystal: a mother, a lover, a stripper and a cancer patient. Confronting death, she grasps at life and faces herself and the ones she loves without deception.

Darak is an aging Sword Master - Juda, his brilliant apprentice son. Juda recounts the events that lead to the destruction of their relationship and finally the ultimate challenge - a death duel. In a world lost in time, the metal of loyalty, honour and family are tested as the tragedy is played out.

Generally regarded as Australia's finest railway film and winner of many awards the world over, A Steam Train Passes is a nostalgic, imaginative essay on one of the majestic C38 class steam locomotives, 3801. The locomotive has recently returned to service and is currently operating out of the NSW Rail Museum at Thirlmere, south of Sydney.

John hasn't left his bedroom for ten years. Today he could, in a time machine.

Late in life, Cass is drawn to his long-forsaken childhood home of Bundaberg, where he finds himself on a spiritual search for redemption.

Resigned to a life of sadness and regret at his hideous treatment of his wife many years ago, Trevor, an aging ex-con, spends his lonely life walking his dog and staying out of trouble. One morning he stumbles upon Melissa, a woman desperate, afraid, and operating on a knife's edge of panic. She's killed her abusive husband and is frantically trying to bury him. Sizing up the situation, Trevor recognizes the pain in her eyes and sees a way to save Melissa, and to redeem himself in the process. But the price of freedom and redemption will be higher than either of them could have ever imagined...

Abandoned by his parents and harboring a grim family secret a damaged young teen is faced with a difficult choice when he brings his foreign girlfriend into the family home.

An illicit affair, a mysterious illness, a birth, a death and a reunion. Tony narrates from beyond the grave the strange tragedy of his life.

A young woman seduces an older man and reveals her sinister intentions over a dinner date.

The road through the wood is said to be haunted; but are the ghosts from the past or the future?

Five friends set off on an adventure in a small boat. They discover a mysterious island, where, one by one, they die a terrible death.

Ali Baba is a poor woodcutter who unexpectedly discovers the secret hideout of a gang of thieves. In a magical cave of thieves keep the immense treasures that have been usurped over the years.

A hacker poses as a delivery driver to steal from the local millionaires. However, little did he know that the blueprints to his perfect plan would begin to blur. Slowly discovering that high rewards require high risks..

A young hobbit is thrown into the deep end of adulthood, when a series of events lead him down a more independent and Concious path. Expressing all the troubles and responsibilities that can come with it, the boy (Christopher) slowly becomes a man.

Dale, a milk bar employee, probably doesn't like chips anymore...

A successful screenwriting prodigy goes to film school and is forced to reflect on his status as an award-winner, by a character of a different clay from most.

Two boys embark on an adventure to go fishing at their friends favourite pond, on the journey they come across the Park Ranger who has other ideas.

Concerns a young boy's mystical experiences during his Confirmation. As the ceremony unfolds, figures from religion and mythology appear and impress on him the need to become a soldier of Christ.

A sapphic royal/guard romance. Princess Ellora has some reservations about inheriting the throne. Her reservations are often quelled by her guard, Brynn, who promises to support her through even the toughest times. After Ellora's betrothal becomes imminent, the girls must decide if their feelings for one another are to be acted upon before it's too late, or extinguished.

When the young and beautiful actress Maddy McCarthy (Clare Bowen), star of Ray Abbott's theatrical production, has an emotional breakdown that jeopardizes the show, Ray turns to Zac Freeman, his young and ambitious publicist, to come up with a plan to save the show. With the help of Maddy's friend and understudy Connie Burns (Natalie Blair), Zac kidnaps Maddy and plays it as a publicity stunt. While Zac and Maddy hide out in a secluded cabin deep in the woods, the press go crazy with speculation and gossip. But soon the plan begins to unravel and Maddy, Zac and Connie become pitched in a terrifying and bloody battle of survival.

To celebrate the 25th birthday of The Wiggles, the original famous four, Greg, Murray, Jeff and Anthony decided to reunite for a one-off performance. They picked a rock & roll pub in Melbourne where their original fan base, now 20 somethings would feel right at home. Filmed live at The Croxton Hotel, this was the first Wiggles show where the audience did not need to be accompanied by their parents. This may be one of the most joyous gigs ever captured on film!

Troubled artist Cassie suffers with reoccurring visions of murder, which she copes with by committing the violent acts to canvas. But when her visions begin to manifest in real life, her friends and family begin to turn up dead. Realizing her visions actually provide a direct link to the killer, Cassie must now confront her own past in order to stop the murders and save herself.

A group of people working in film and television are gathered at a dinner party to discuss Australian media coverage of the Gulf War.

Set in Tasmania, a boy is sent to stay with cousins while his mother is ill and discovers a wilderness adventure.

Dance music has spread across the world transcending religious & racial barriers connecting to the hearts and souls of millions. People have always felt the rhythm of music and have as a result evolved countless dance styles throughout the ages. Beginning in the late 80's in Melbourne's underground dance music party scene, a revolutionary freestyle dance began to grow and has now developed into the most unique and robust underground dance style since the birth of Breakdancing. The Melbourne Shuffle has no set steps but encourages individuality and imagination, incorporating dance moves from numerous styles such as miming, popping & locking, liquid and breaking.

Desperate to get rid of her gender dysphoria, yet terrified of what the world will think, a closeted, transgender scientist builds the perfect female clone of herself. It’s everything she’s always wanted to be… except, it’s nothing like her.

A behind-the-scenes documentary following Australian rock band Inflight during the creation of their 2005 album So This Is Love. Featuring frontman David O’Reilly and the band in studio sessions, the film offers song breakdowns, recording footage, and commentary on the writing process. Distributed by Planet Blue Pictures.

Over the seven days of mourning following her grandmother’s death, Miriam forms a forbidden connection with a young Rabbi that sets in motion the unravelling of a complex family reckoning with their identities.

Our Agony Uncles and Aunts are back to discuss all things Christmas. If Christmas is meant to be a time for peace and love, then why does it throw so many lives into turmoil?

A woman seeks revenge after being brutally attacked by dishonest land developers.

Six young Aussie men drink beers from the afternoon well into the night. Using only movement in the way of back slaps, crowd surfs, and chokeholds, they manage to say everything without uttering a single word.

Novelty movie which seems like just another people-gathered-in-a-country-house-murder-mystery but then lets the viewers choose the ending.

A story of a father and daughter in the father's last days in life.

A biography of Vincent van Gogh using only images and the letters he wrote to his brother Theo.

A working theatre actor questions her calling when she plays Lady Macduff in an increasingly violent production of Shakespeare's "Macbeth", with an internationally celebrated auteur director.

The Buyback follows James Stanton-Cooke, co-founder of not-for-profit organisation Halfcut. Their mission is to purchase undeveloped land in the Lowland Daintree Rainforest and protect one of the world's last surviving ancient ecosystems. With more than half the world's forests lost to deforestation, time is running out. This fact is physically etched into James himself as he proudly wears half a beard in constant protest. We uncover the effect human habitation is having on this ecosystem and follow amazing individuals who are fighting against development pressures. There are tangible solutions to these issues, and through organisations like Halfcut everyone can help to protect and restore what's left of the world's oldest rainforest.

Blown Away is about a woman who’s feeling a bit down and out. She shoots up, then really starts shooting up.  People, that is. Her spree claims several victims, but will it make her happy?